Microfluidics system

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are a system and method for using a microfluidics device. The system includes: a plurality of pumps and a plurality of sensors; a first communication line to select a pump from the plurality of pumps and select a sensor from the plurality of sensors; a second communication line selectively connected to the selected pump; and a third communication line selectively connected to the selected sensor.

BACKGROUND

Microfluidics test methods are seeing increasing development to providepoint of care (POC) testing. Point of care focuses on providingdiagnostic or other testing services at the site of sample collection.For medical testing, this allows the test results to be provided whilethe medical personnel and the patient are still together, avoiding asecond visit and allowing immediate commencement of appropriatetreatment. It avoids the delay in waiting for test results or the riskof beginning the potentially wrong treatment in the absence of adiagnosis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various examples of the principlesdescribed herein and are a part of the specification. The illustratedexamples are intended to describe examples and do not limit the scope ofthe claims. Like numerals denote similar but not necessarily identicalelements.

FIG. 1 shows an example system consistent with this specification.

FIG. 2 shows an example system consistent with this specification.

FIG. 3 shows an example system consistent with this specification.

FIG. 4 shows an example method consistent with this specification.

FIG. 5 shows an example system consistent with this specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Point of care tests face additional demands over lab based tests. In POCtesting, components may need to be shelf stable. In contrast, labs mayuse reagents that use refrigeration, freezing, or other special storageconditions. POC testing equipment may need to be portable. In contrast,lab equipment may be larger. Ideally, the testing is available to thesame number of patients, which in turn, implies more testing devicescompared with a single lab setup. Testing procedures may need to besimplified to allow patient contacting medical professionals to reliablyand reproducibly obtain results. In contrast, labs often employspecialists to perform testing.

One advantage POC tests have is that there is often a short time betweensample acquisition and testing. This may avoid the need for specializedhandling and shipping procedures (e.g. ice packs) to avoid sampledegradation. POC samples also may be less vulnerable to contamination ormix-up during handling because the sample may be acquired and processedby the same individual without other samples in the vicinity. However,despite these advantages, the technical and economic advantages oftraditional lab base approaches represent a significant challenge to newPOC tests.

Accordingly, development of POC devices and test methods focuses ondeveloping reliable, robust tests performable at reasonable cost at thepoint of care. In the end, increased cost of the POC method over alab-based test balances against the benefit of the medical benefits ofreduced time for the medical provider to obtain results.

Microfluidics testing generally refers to performing testing on smallvolumes of fluid, generally in the nanoliter (nl) to picoliter (pl)range. The test sample is often extracted from a larger sample, forexample in the microliter (pl) or milliliter (ml) range. For medicaltests, small samples can often be acquired with less pain and/or injuryto a patient. The small sample volumes also allow multiple tests to beperformed on a single sample. In some cases, these include differentkinds of tests performed simultaneously or sequentially on amicrofluidics device. In other cases, they include replicates, includingtrue replicates and time series replicates. The small size of thehardware involved often makes it practical to perform replicatemeasurements without additional material or time cost. This can improvethe reliability of the test by averaging the results of multiple runs.As discussed below, the methods described in this specification mayfacilitate performing multiple tests using a single chip and/orcartridge without significant impacting the chip/cartridge cost.

While a variety of different models exist for performing microfluidicstests, one model may offer some advantages. In this model, the testsystem is divided into two components, the device and the cartridge. Thedevice is a reusable component that is used for multiple tests. Oftentimes the device is larger than the cartridge. The device may include aprocessor and other electronic components to control and regulate theactivities on the cartridge. The device may include a memory andcommunication ports or systems. In some examples, the device ishandheld. In most examples, the device is compact and portable. Thedevice may be considered a durable medical device.

The cartridge is a component used to support or enable the device toperform the desired test. The device may support many kinds ofcartridges or a single type. The cartridge is often disposable. However,cartridges can be recycled, refurbished, reconditioned, and/or reloadeddepending on the economics and healthcare safety of reuse vs. make new.The cartridge interfaces with the device. While this often takes theform of a physical connection with electrical contacts, it can also beperformed using a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth, WI-Fi, orother local communication method. The goal of the cartridge is to reducethe costs of the cartridge while enabling the cartridge to enable thedesired microfluidics method. This lowers the per test cost.Accordingly, the cartridge may have a minimal number of electronicscomponents, especially when those functions can be provided by thedevice. In contrast, the cartridge generally does contain the materialsto perform the specific test, for example, reagents, or other materialsrather than attempting to move such materials from the device to thecartridge as part of the testing process.

While a cartridge can take a variety of different physical forms, thedevelopment of precision electronics manufacturing techniques and theassociated field of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) has providedtools to support relatively low cost, high volume, precisionmicro-manufacturing. Accordingly, many cartridges include MEMS as the‘guts’ of the cartridge. The cartridge may include additionalcomponents, including reservoirs, batteries, and electronic componentsthat are more difficult or uneconomical to form using MEMS fabricationtechniques. The MEMS may be built up on a substrate and while siliconwafers and similar semiconductor substrates are available, a widevariety of substrates may be used.

Accordingly, the present specification describes, among other examples,a microfluidics system. The system comprising: a plurality of pumps anda plurality of sensors; a first communication line to select a pump fromthe plurality of pumps and select a sensor from the plurality ofsensors; a second communication line selectively connected to theselected pump; and a third communication line selectively connected tothe selected sensor.

The present specification also describes a method of makingmicrofluidics measurements. The method comprising: using a singlecommunication line, selecting a sensor from a plurality of sensors and apump from a plurality of pumps; activating the selected pump; andobtaining a sensor measurement from the selected sensor during theactivation of the selected pump.

The present specification also describes a microfluidic measurementsystem. The microfluidics measurement system comprising: a substrate; aplurality of transistors mounted on the substrate; a plurality of pumpsmounted on the substrate, each pump having an associated transistor,wherein a state of an associated transistor controls whether acorresponding pump is selected; a plurality of sensors mounted on thesubstrate, each sensor having an associated transistor, wherein a stateof an associated transistor determines whether a corresponding sensor isselected; a series of flip-flops, where each transistor of the pluralityof transistors has an associated flip-flip that controls a state of thecorresponding transistor; a data line providing a state to a firstflip-flop in the series of flip-flops; a pump activation lineselectively connected electrically to a selected pump; a sensor lineselectively connected electrically to the selected sensor; and a signalline to provide a signal to the series of flip-flops, upon receipt ofthe signal on the signal line, a state of a flip-flop in the series offlip-flops is transmitted to a next flip-flop in the series offlip-flops.

Turning now to the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a system consistent with this specification. The system(100) includes a substrate (110) with a plurality of pumps (170) and aplurality of sensors (160). While any number of pumps (170) and sensor(160) can be produced on the substrate (110), a finite number are shownin the figures for clarity. The system (100) includes a number ofcommunication lines that allow the components on the substrate to sendand receive signals from an external source. The communication linesconnect to pads (120, 130, 140, 150) which provide the contacts toexternal components. Each pump (170) and each sensor (160) has atransistor (180) associated with it. When the transistor (180) is in afirst state, the associated pump (170) and/or sensor (160) is connectedwith an external communication pad (120, 130). When the transistor is ina second state, the associated pump (170) and/or sensor (160) is notconnected with an external communication pad (120, 130). The transistors(180) are controlled by a series of flip-flops (190) so that each time asignal is provided to the system by a signal pad (150), the values inthe transistors (180) are propagated to the next transistor (180) in thechain. Accordingly, the whole of a chain of X transistor can be set tothe proper states by providing the proper sequence of states on a datapad (140) and advancing the states down the chain of flip-flops (190)and associated transistors (180) by applying a series of signals on thesignal pad (150).

The line associated with the first external communication pad (120) isthe pump activation line (122). The line associated with the secondexternal communication pad (130) is the sensor line (132). The lineassociated with the data pad (140) is the data line (142). The lineassociated with the signal pad (150) is the signal line (152).

One advantage of this approach is it limits the number of pads needed tomanage any number of pumps (170) and/or sensors (160). This reduces thecost of fabricating the system (100), which in turn reduces the per testcost.

One examples uses a single external communication pad (120, 130) andassociated line to both provide the firing impulses to the pumps (170)and obtain measurements from the sensors (160). However, this design hassome challenges. Specifically, for some types of testing, the firingpulses applied through created significant noise on the sharedcommunication line and associated external communication pad (120, 130).Further, sensor measurements are not available while using the sharedcommunication line to activate the pump. Also, in this example there isa time lag during shifting the communication line from a pump (170) to asensor (160) during which measurements are not obtained. Similarly, whena sequence of pumping and measurements were needed, the system had gapsin the measurement windows when pumping and shifting between measurementand pumping.

In contrast, the present system, with its independent communication padsfor the pumps (130) and the sensors (120) allows a sensor to measurewhile a pump is active. This separation also isolates the two signals,preventing inadvertent application of relatively large pump voltages tothe sensors. This approach reduces cross talk between the pump firingsignals and the sensor output, which improves the signal to noise ratio(S/N ratio) for the sensor measurements. Improved S/N ratio can allowthe use of less expensive components to obtain similar measurementsand/or can be used to improve the quality of the measurements dependingon the specific design goals for the device.

The system (100) is a system for preforming microfluidics measurements.It includes a variety of components mounted on a substrate (110). Thesystem (100) may be designed to interact with a separate device. In someexamples, the system is a cartridge (100). In some examples, the systemis disposable. In other examples, the system is reusable and/orrefurbishable.

The substrate (110) supports the components of the system (100). In someexamples, the substrate (110) comprises silicon. The substrate (110) mayinclude internal conductive traces and/or components. Other conductivetraces and/or components may be mounted on one or both surfaces. Thesubstrate includes a number of pads (120, 130, 140, 150) forfacilitating communications off the substrate (110). The pads (120, 130,140, 150) may make electrical connection with external conductors. Thepads (120, 130, 140, 150) may communicate wirelessly, optically, byradio, electromagnetic wave, and/or similar technologies. In oneexample, the substrate (110) includes a power source such as a batterythat converts the signals received at the pads into electrical signals.In other examples, power is provided by an external device by a directconnection and/or inductive transfer.

The first external communication pad (120) provides firing pulses to thepumps (170) on the substrate (110). The firing pulses travel from thefirst external communication pad (120) to the pumps (170) that have aselected associated transistor (180). The firing pulses are preventedfrom traveling to the pumps (170) that do not have a selected associatedtransistor (180). In one example, a single pump (170) is selected at atime. In other examples, multiple pumps (170) may be selected and firedat the same time. A pump (170) may be activated while a measurement isbeing acquired from a sensor (160). Alternately, a pump (170) mayperform fluid handling before and/or after sensor (160) measurements.The pumps (170) may be any suitable pump (170) sized to operate with thesubstrate (110). The pumps (170) may be a piezoelectric membrane pumps(170). The pumps (170) may be bubble pumps (170) which operate byvaporizing a portion of a fluid to produce an expanding bubble. Thepumps (170) may include associated valves, including one-way valves. Thepumps (170) need not be the same type or design, although there aremanufacturing advantages to standardizing them. The pumps (170) may beaugmented with evaporative and/or capillary actions to facilitate fluidmanagement on the substrate (110).

The second external communication pad (130) is used to provide sensormeasurements to an external location. This external location may be adevice. The external location may be the source of the firing pulses.The external communication pad is connected to a single sensor (160)using a selected transistor (180). Incrementing or loading new bits intothe flip-flops (190) allows the selected transistor (180) to be changedto a different transistor (180) associated with a different sensor(160). The second communication pad (130) is not connected with multiplesensors (160) simultaneously. If measurements are desired to be made ontwo different sensors (160) simultaneously, a third externalcommunication pad (not show) can be incorporated into the system (110)and some of the sensors (160) are made to communicate through the secondexternal communication pad (130) and some sensors are made tocommunicate through the third external communication pad. This approachcan be repeated to add even more sensors available for simultaneousmeasurement. However, there are diminishing returns as each sensor (160)that can be simultaneously measured adds an additional externalcommunication pad (120, 130) with the associated monetary and equipmentcost.

The data pad (140) provides the bits that are loaded into the flip-flops(190). Those bits determine the states of the transistors (180). Thetransistors (180), in turn, control which sensor (160) and pump(s) (170)are available on the external communication pads (120, 130).

The signal pad (150) provides signals to the flip-flops (190) to advancethe stored bit to the next flip-flop (190) in the chain. These storedbits, in turn, control the state of the transistors (180) which in turncontrol which sensor (160) and pump(s) (170) are available on theexternal communication pads (120, 130). The signal can be any suitablesignal. In one example, the signal is a clock signal. In one example,the signal is a level signal. In another example, the signal is an edgesignal.

The sensors (160) can include any of a variety of sensors that may beused to make measurements in a microfluidics environment. The sensors(160) may be all of the same type. Alternately, the sensors (160) mayinclude a variety of different sensors types. The sensors (160) arelikely located at different positions on the substrate (110). Thematerial being evaluated by the sensors (160) may be subjected to avariety of preloading or on substrate processing prior to taking thesensor (160) measurement. Detailed description of the particular sensor(160) types and their method of operation is not the purpose of thisspecification. However, a non-limiting list of examples of sensors andmeasurements includes: impedance sensors, absorbance sensors, opticalsensors, proximity sensors, composition sensors, ultrasound sensors,capacitive sensors, and resonance sensors. As discussed above, a singlesensor is electrically available at the second external communicationpad (130) at a given time. To make a multiple sensors availablesimultaneously, an additional external communication pad can be addedand indexed with the flip-flops (190) and transistors (180).

The pumps (170) facilitate fluid management. The pumps (170) may be anysuitable pump (170) that can operate with the substrate (110). The pumps(170) may be piezoelectric membrane pumps (170). The pumps (170) may bebubble pumps (170) which operate by vaporizing a portion of a fluid toproduce an expanding bubble. The pumps (170) may include associatedvalves, including one-way valves. The pumps (170) need not be the sametype or design, although there are manufacturing advantages tostandardizing them. The pumps (170) may be augmented with evaporativeand/or capillary actions to facilitate fluid management on the substrate(110). A pump (170) is associated with the first external communicationpad (120) using the transistors (180) and the flip-flops (190). In someexamples, multiple pumps (120) may be associated with the first externalcommunication pad (120) at the same time.

The transistors (180) perform the selection of the addressable sensor(160) and pump (170). The transistor (180) state is controlled by anassociated flip-flop (190). Bits are loaded into the flip-flops (190)using the data pad (140) and the signal pad (150). Those bits arepropagated down the chain of flip-flops (190). This approach allows theselection from a large number of sensors using two pads (140, 150).Accordingly, the system can include a larger number of different sensorgeometries, pump types, configurations, etc. without increasing thenumber of pads and the associated costs. This provides greaterflexibility in design and allows a given system (100) design to providea larger number of tests. Using a single design to support more tests,in turn, reduces the number of systems (100) that need to be available.It also facilitates economies of scale in both manufacturing and supplymanagement.

The flip-flops (190) allow the bits that control the transistors (180)to be provided to the system (100) via serial action using the data pad(140) and signal pad (150). The flip-flops (190) are chained together sothat with each appropriate signal on the signal pad (150), the bitsadvance to the next flip-flop (190). This in turn allows the state ofthe transistors (180) to be controlled, which in turn provides selectionof the pump (170) and/or sensor (160) in communication with the externalcommunication pads (120, 130). The use of the serial communicationallows the data pad (140) and signal pad (150) to select from any numberof pumps (170) and/or sensors (160). In contrast, using parallelcommunication uses log 2 (n) pads.

The term flip-flops (190) as used in this specification and theassociated claims includes both edge sensitive and level sensitivedevices. Accordingly, it also includes latches including simple latchesand similar devices that are capable of maintaining two distinct statesand propagating those states down the series of devices in response toan input. While the input may be provided as a clock signal, anysuitable triggering input will provide the same functionality.Alternately, the input may be a level, transition, edge, etc.

FIG. 1 shows the use of single data line to load the flip-flops (190).However, other configurations are possible. For example, if the loadingor switching time is unacceptably long, additional data pads can beprovided and the flip-flops (190) divided into banks. In one example,the transistors (180) that control selection of the pumps (170) are in afirst bank and the transistors (180) that control selection of thesensors (160) are in a second bank. In another example, each bankincludes transistors that control both pumps (170) and/or sensors (160).Clearly, additional banks of flip-flops (190) can be added to optimizethe tradeoff between cartridge cost and loading speed.

FIG. 1 also shows that the state of the first transistor (180) iscontrolled by the state on the data pad (140). As another variation, thefirst transistor (180) can be controlled by a second flip-flop (190) asso forth down the chain. These two different approaches provide anengineering tradeoff. As shown in FIG. 1, the system uses one fewerclock cycle to load the chain of flip-flops (190) and the correspondingtransistors (180). However, this implies maintaining the state of thedata pad (150) during operation. In contrast, adding an additionalflip-flop (190) lengthens the load time by a clock cycle but makes thesystem independent of the data pad (150) state during operation. Eitherapproach can be taken with the examples in this specification. Whichapproach is preferable will depend on the relative design value of datapad (150) state independence vs. loading time.

FIG. 2 shows a system consistent with this specification. The system(100) comprises a substrate (110) with a plurality of sensors (160) andpumps (170). The substrate also has pad (120, 130, 140, 150) tofacilitate communication with other devices. The first externalcommunication pad (120) allows control signals to be provided to a pump(170). The second external communication pad (130) allows measurementsto be obtained from a sensor (160). The data pad (140) and signal pad(150) are used to provide a serial series of bits to a series offlip-flops (190). The flip-flops (190) in turn control the transistors(180) which in turn determine which pump (170) and/or sensor (160) canbe accessed using the external communication pads (120, 130).

FIG. 2 differs from FIG. 1 in that instead of providing independentflip-flops (190) and transistors (180) for each pump (170) and eachsensor (160), a flip-flop (190) is associated with both a pump (170) anda sensor (160). In some versions, independent transistors are stillprovided for each pump (170) and sensor (160). In others, thetransistors (180) are similarly combined for the paired sensor (160) andpump (170). Examples of both configurations are shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2shows all the pumps and sensors in paired configuration. However, otherconfigurations are possible. For example, sensors that are used withjust a particular pump may be arranged in this paired arrangement whileother pumps and sensors may be arranged as shown in FIG. 1.

The approach shown in FIG. 2 has the advantage of reducing thepropagation time for the flip-flops (190) and switching time betweenpumps (170) and sensors (160). In some examples, it may allow for morepumps (170) or sensors (160) to fit on a given substrate. It is alsopossible that a more general design such as shown in FIG. 1 can beconverted to FIG. 2 after fabrication. One way this is performed is toarrange for some of the electrical connections to be severed. This canbe done mechanically. This can also be done by including resistiveelements as preset points and then melting the connections at theresistive elements by applying a high frequency current. When theconductor melts, surface tension causes the melted material to form adroplet, severing the conductive path. The material then cools andsolidifies. Other methods exist to modify MEMS and electronic componentspost production, including laser, chemical, and thermal modifications.Post-production modification can reduce manufacturing and in some casesinventory costs using economies of scale. In one example, the system isprovided in the general configuration and is modified at the point ofuse.

Although the pumps (170) are shown in a one to one configuration withthe sensors (160), other configurations are possible within the scope ofthis specification. For example, multiple pumps (170) may be associatedwith a single sensor (160). Alternately, a pump (170) may be used withtwo different sensors (160). In one example, the pump (170) receives afirst activation signal when a first sensor (160) is selected and thepump (170) receives a second activation signal when a second sensor(160) is selected. In some examples, the pump (170) receives multiplekinds of activation signals when a first sensor (160) is selected.

FIG. 3 shows a system consistent with this specification. The system(100) comprises a substrate (110) with a plurality of sensors (160) andpumps (170). The substrate also has pad (120, 130, 140, 150) tofacilitate communication with other devices. The first externalcommunication pad (120) allows control signals to be provided to a pump(170). The second external communication pad (130) allows measurementsto be obtained from a sensor (160). The data pad (140) and signal pad(150) are used to provide a serial series of bits to a series offlip-flops (190). The flip-flops (190) control the transistors (180)which in turn determine which pump (170) and/or sensor (160) can beaccessed using the external communication pads (120, 130).

FIG. 3 differs from FIGS. 1 and 2 in that FIG. 3 includes flip-flops(190) in the chain of flip-flops (190) that are not connected to anytransistor (180) and therefore do not allow selection of any pump (170)or sensor (160). These unconnected flip-flops (190) increase the overallpropagation time for series of flip-flops (190). However, carefulplacement of these unconnected flip-flops (190) can reduce the switchingtime between a first configuration and a second configuration. Theunconnected flip-flops (190) serve as storage locations for bits in theseries of flip-flop (190). With proper placement, they can enableswitching between two pumps and/or sensors that are separated byintervening pumps (170) and/or sensors (160) with a single signal to thesignal pad (150). The signal results in the bits associated with theselected pump (170) and/or sensor (160) being advanced to an unconnectedflip-flop (190) removing the previously selected pump (170) and/orsensor (160) from electrical connection with the external communicationpads (120, 130). Further down the series of flip-flops (190), other bitsare moved from an unconnected flip-flop (190) to a flip-flop (190)connected to a transistor (180). This allows signals to pass to and beobtained from the pump and/or sensor associated with the transistor(180).

FIG. 4 shows a method consistent with this specification. The method(400) using a single communication line, selecting a sensor from aplurality of sensors (160) and a pump from a plurality of pumps (170)(410); activating the selected pump (170) (420); and obtaining a sensormeasurement from the selected sensor (160) during the activation of theselected pump (170) (430).

Operation (410) comprises using a single communication line, selecting asensor from a plurality of sensors and a pump from a plurality of pumps.Using a single line reduces the cost of the test component by reducingthe number of pads required. It also facilities using a variety ofdifferent test systems (100) with a given device because the device canuse the two pads to control any number of pumps (170) and/or sensors(160). In contrast, if parallel loading were used, the number ofpotential selectable devices in the system depends on the number ofpads/channels allocated for selection. Selection can be accomplished byserially providing selection bits that control the connection betweenthe pumps and a pump line and the sensors and a sensor line.

Operation (420) comprises activating the selected pump. The selectiontransistors (180) allow the pump activation signal to activate just theselected pump (170) or pumps (170). This allows a single pump activationsignal generator to provide all the pump activation signals to all thepumps (170) in the system (100) by changing which pump (170) iscurrently selected. This reduces the hardware needed in an associateddevice to interface with the system (100) since it can use a singlegenerator rather than multiple generators.

Operation (430) comprises obtaining a sensor measurement from theselected sensor during the activation of the selected pump. This allowsa single set of signal receiving and/or analysis hardware to be usedwith all the sensors (160) in the system (100). This can reduce thecosts of a device used with the system (100) since a single piece ofmeasurement equipment can be used for all sensors (160) of a given typein the system (100). This may also reduce the time to performcalibration on the device as the one piece of measurement equipment isused for multiple sensors (160). If the device uses an analog to digitalconverter, it similarly can be used with all of the sensors (160) againreducing the potential component costs for an associated device.

Because the pump signal and sensor measurements are provided ondifferent external communication pads (120, 130), operations 420 and 430can be performed simultaneously. The use of separate externalcommunication pads (120, 130) also reduces the noise from the pumpactivation signal on the sensor measurements. The use of different linesfor the pump activation

FIG. 5 shows a system consistent with this specification. The system(100) is a microfluidics system (100) on a substrate (110) with aplurality of pumps (170) and a plurality of sensors (160). The systemincludes a first communication line (142) for selecting a pump from theplurality of pumps (170) and selecting a sensor from the plurality ofsensors (160); a second communication line (122) for providing anactivation signal to the selected pump; and a third communication line(132) for obtaining an output from the selected sensor.

The first communication line is a data line (142) for selecting a pumpfrom the plurality of pumps (170) and selecting a sensor from theplurality of sensors (160). The second communication line is a pumpactivation line (122) for activating the selected pump and notactivating the non-selected pumps. The third communication line is asensor line (132) to provide a sensor measurement from the selectedsensor.

Within the principles described by this specification, a vast number ofvariations exist and that the examples are intended to be merelyrepresentative, without limiting the scope, applicability, orconstruction of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making microfluidics measurements,the method comprising: using a single communication line, selecting asensor from a plurality of sensors and a pump from a plurality of pumps;activating the selected pump; and obtaining a sensor measurement fromthe selected sensor during the activation of the selected pump.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the pump is a bubble pump.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising, with the selected pump, receiving anactivation sequence that varies based on the selected sensor.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein selection of a first sensor automaticallyselects a corresponding first pump.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising serially operating the single communication line to selectthe sensor from the plurality of sensors and the pump from the pluralityof pumps.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a pluralityof transistors connected to the single communication line to activatethe selected pump and enable the selected sensor.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein activating the selected pump further comprises receiving asignal on a second communication line with branches that connect to eachpump in the plurality of pumps such that the signal on the secondcommunication line operates the selected pump.
 8. The method of claim 7,with a third communication line with branches that connect to eachsensor in the plurality of sensors, transmitting output of the selectedsensor on the third communication line.
 9. The method of claim 7,further comprising receiving a signal to drive the selected pump througha single connection pad at which the second communication lineterminates.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting asignal from the selected sensor to a single connection pad at which thethird communication line terminates.
 11. A method of makingmicrofluidics measurements in a microfluidics system that comprises aplurality of pumps and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising:with a first communication line, selecting a pump from the plurality ofpumps and a sensor from the plurality of sensors, the firstcommunication line connected to a plurality of transistors that areconnected to selectively enable operation of the selected pump andselected sensor in response to a signal on the first communication line;operating the selected pump with a signal on a second communication linewith branches that connect to each pump in the plurality of pumps suchthat a signal on the second communication line operates the selectedpump selectively enabled through the plurality of transistors; andtransmitting output of the selected sensor on a third communication linewith branches that connect to each sensor in the plurality of sensors.12. The method of claim 11, further comprising simultaneously enablingmultiple pumps from the plurality of pumps in response to a selectionsignal on the first communication line.
 13. The method of claim 11,selectively enabling both a first pump and a first sensor based on astate of a first transistor. wherein the first transistor amongst theplurality of transistors is connected to both the first pump of theplurality of pumps and the first sensor of the plurality of sensors. 14.The method of claim 11, further comprising, with a plurality offlip-flops connected to the plurality of transistors, upon receipt of aclock signal, transferring a state of a first transistor to a nexttransistor in the plurality of transistors.
 15. The method of claim 14,further comprising having a greater number of flip-flops in theplurality of flip-flops than transistors in the plurality oftransistors.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein each transistor in theplurality of transistors has a gate connected to a different flip-flopin the plurality of flip-flops.
 17. A method of making microfluidicsmeasurements, the method comprising: inputting a selection signal to asingle communication line, the selection signal selecting and enabling asensor from a plurality of sensors and a pump from a plurality of pumps;operating the selected pump to move fluid; and obtaining a sensor signalmeasuring a parameter of the fluid from the selected sensor during theoperation of the selected pump; and outputting the sensor signal fromthe selected sensor.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising,with the selected pump, receiving an activation sequence that variesbased on the selected sensor.
 19. The method of claim 17, whereinselection of a first sensor automatically selects a corresponding firstpump.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising serially operatingthe single communication line to select the sensor from the plurality ofsensors and the pump from the plurality of pumps.